Pelasgia
Established Nation
Propontis, Optimatoi
Tephanon Square was a quaint circular area located in the Old Market of Propontis. It largely consisted of a circular space covered in tiles, with a periphery of neatly trimmed hedges around it and a small fountain in eclectic architecture with elements of Pelasgian and Azraqi architecture. It served as a small clearing between the tight streets of the market, being connected to the largest street of the Old Market District, Palaias Agoras Street, by a side-street, unsurprisingly called Zarakas Street. Tephanon Square served as the traditional centre of Propontis' significant community of Himyari immigrants, at leas the lower class half thereof (the wealthier Himyaris in Propontis being largely clustered around the nearby wealthy merchant district known as the Vatatzeika).
The small and aged neoclassical stores that surrounded the square bore signs in Pelasgian with inscriptions in some other Himyari tongue in smaller letters below quite often. It was often said that one could find anything they wanted in the Old Market of Propontis, with it tightly packed stalls and truly various stores, as goods of all kind covered every surface; nowhere was this more true than Tephanon Square. Narcotics, weapons, fake papers and all others sorts of goods that would unattainable or even unimaginable anywhere else in the Empire were a sizeable part of the business there, for those few who were motivated enough to buy. Unsurprisingly the Propontis Metropolitan Police Service's Foreign Citizens Department and the Central State Security Service (YKAK)'s informants heard of all sorts of dealings, ranging from deals between Archipelago Criminal Clans with Mazidian Cartels to weapons transfers between Natalian Rhinos and the DKKP.
This time, around, however, the Pelasgian authorities were the ones making the contacts. Enо̄motarchīs A* Pavlos Exarchos of the YKAK had served as the ranking officer for field operations in Tephanon square of three years, and had been getting plenty of reports about the situation in Loago from his sources. When the latest directive came down from the 2nd Lieutenant above him, he knew precisely where to go. Making his way through the crowded market in plain clothes, Exarchos entered a small electronics store with an inscription that read «ΗΛΕΚΤΡΟΝΙΚΑ ΑΝΑΤΟΛΙΚΟΥ ΟΜΗΡΕΙΑΣ Α.Β.Ε.Ε.»**: The building was built in the neoclassical style and must have once served as a cafe, as indicated by the decorations that still lined it. Since then, its chequered floor had decayed, as had its walls, and cheap electronics on rusty metal shelves filled its space in between its white walls. Behind a white wooden counter stood a lone figure, a dark-skinned man in a white shirt with rolled-up sleeves and faded jeans. This man Exarchos knew well, but he was not then one he wanted to speak to. After a short conversation about his "order" he was directed to the back of the store, to meet one of his most prolific connections: Mbatu, the small but quick-witted and humorous electrician from eastern Loago.
*YKAK rank equivalent to a Master Sergeant
**meaning "Eastern Himyar Electronics Ltd."; pronounced ilektronika anatolikou omirias a.v.e.e.
The conversation between the two was amicable and cordial, starting the moment Exarchos approached the bench Mbatu was working at.
"Already back here, galonas*? Haven't got much for you since that last lead on the Rhinos on Monday."
*galonas (meaning "man with the stripes on his shoulders") is an epithet for members of the Pelasgian security services, especially officers; it is considered more amiable than asphalitis ("[state-]security man") or the pejorative batsos ("fist/punch")
"Nah, this time I don't want you to get me something from someone. I want you to get something to them."
Mbatu paused and turned around.
"You lot are talking to the Rhinos now? Didn't know you Donkeys* were getting that desperate."
*the donkey is one of Pelasgia's traditional national animals, alongside the dolphin and the booted eagle
"Nah, this message is for the LLC. Nobody less than Masimba himself," he said handing Mbatu the message; before he let go of the paper he spoke again; "Mbatu this one's serious and it's from high up. Very high up."
"How high up, galonas?" said Mbatu with a concerned face.
"Quarter of the Angels* high-up. I don't want any leaks, you understand? A word of this gets out to anyone, and neither one of us is coming home to our families for Christmas."
*The central government district of Propontis, including the Imperial Palace and many organs of the executive government, as well as prestigious embassies and the Propontis homes of noble and notable families
"Understood, boss. I'll get my best people on this. Not a word, as you said."
Exarchos nodded and turned around to leave. As he exited the room, he placed a small package containing money and a chocolate bar near the door.
"Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, Mbatu. Send my regards to the family; the Lieut sends a little gift for the holidays."
"Same to you, Pavlos. I'll light a candle for you and your family when I visit the monastery with my family next weekend."
Mbatu, true to his word, made sure the note would get to Masimba. It read thus:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr. Masimba,
The Pelasgian Empire has observed the recent developments in your country with great care and concern. It is our firm belief that independence and freedom should reign across the Ebony Continent and that this end should be pursued by any and all means necessary. At the same time, we have no desire to see Loago, or any other part of Himyar, fall to the virulent ideology of Communism.
It is the Empire's understanding that you are a practical man in complicated circumstances. In our view, the LLC is the only party capable of bringing long-term peace and stability to Loago without the need for the presence of foreign troops or overlords. As such, the Empire would be willing to offer you its support in the liberation of your homeland; we do, of course, take issue with the economic policies espoused by your movement, but in terms of Nationalism, the LLC and the Nationalist Party which now rules Pelasgia are perfectly aligned.
Provided that the LLC is ready to moderate and play-down the Marxist element of its message in favour of focusing on its Nationalism, the Empire would be willing to offer considerable material, diplomatic, ideological, financial and other support, both practical and theoretical and long and short-term. We do not expect the LLC to become Engellexian-style free-market enthusiasts. Lord knows the Nationalist Party of Pelasgia is not of such views either, favouring state intervention, command of the heights of the economy and class cooperation, a safe middle path of economic policy. As long as the LLC would be more amenable to move towards that middle, in fact even if not in name, the Empire would find it to be quite positively aligned with our views for what the future of Himyar should be.
If this is of interest to you, Mr. Masimba, you will find attached information on how to contact us more readily and easily, so as to establish a more permanent and meaningful relationship. Of course, if you instead wish to betray us, you will that these sources could not be used for anything but vague and unsubstantiated accusations which will have little effect. As such, it would be in your best interest to not respond at all if cooperation is not on your mind. But your ultimate best interest, as we are sure you are aware, is to cooperate with our country for the purposes of Himyari liberation.
We eagerly await your response.
With honour,
A. Kalogeros
First General Directorate
Central State Security Service
Pelasgian Empire
Tephanon Square was a quaint circular area located in the Old Market of Propontis. It largely consisted of a circular space covered in tiles, with a periphery of neatly trimmed hedges around it and a small fountain in eclectic architecture with elements of Pelasgian and Azraqi architecture. It served as a small clearing between the tight streets of the market, being connected to the largest street of the Old Market District, Palaias Agoras Street, by a side-street, unsurprisingly called Zarakas Street. Tephanon Square served as the traditional centre of Propontis' significant community of Himyari immigrants, at leas the lower class half thereof (the wealthier Himyaris in Propontis being largely clustered around the nearby wealthy merchant district known as the Vatatzeika).
The small and aged neoclassical stores that surrounded the square bore signs in Pelasgian with inscriptions in some other Himyari tongue in smaller letters below quite often. It was often said that one could find anything they wanted in the Old Market of Propontis, with it tightly packed stalls and truly various stores, as goods of all kind covered every surface; nowhere was this more true than Tephanon Square. Narcotics, weapons, fake papers and all others sorts of goods that would unattainable or even unimaginable anywhere else in the Empire were a sizeable part of the business there, for those few who were motivated enough to buy. Unsurprisingly the Propontis Metropolitan Police Service's Foreign Citizens Department and the Central State Security Service (YKAK)'s informants heard of all sorts of dealings, ranging from deals between Archipelago Criminal Clans with Mazidian Cartels to weapons transfers between Natalian Rhinos and the DKKP.
This time, around, however, the Pelasgian authorities were the ones making the contacts. Enо̄motarchīs A* Pavlos Exarchos of the YKAK had served as the ranking officer for field operations in Tephanon square of three years, and had been getting plenty of reports about the situation in Loago from his sources. When the latest directive came down from the 2nd Lieutenant above him, he knew precisely where to go. Making his way through the crowded market in plain clothes, Exarchos entered a small electronics store with an inscription that read «ΗΛΕΚΤΡΟΝΙΚΑ ΑΝΑΤΟΛΙΚΟΥ ΟΜΗΡΕΙΑΣ Α.Β.Ε.Ε.»**: The building was built in the neoclassical style and must have once served as a cafe, as indicated by the decorations that still lined it. Since then, its chequered floor had decayed, as had its walls, and cheap electronics on rusty metal shelves filled its space in between its white walls. Behind a white wooden counter stood a lone figure, a dark-skinned man in a white shirt with rolled-up sleeves and faded jeans. This man Exarchos knew well, but he was not then one he wanted to speak to. After a short conversation about his "order" he was directed to the back of the store, to meet one of his most prolific connections: Mbatu, the small but quick-witted and humorous electrician from eastern Loago.
*YKAK rank equivalent to a Master Sergeant
**meaning "Eastern Himyar Electronics Ltd."; pronounced ilektronika anatolikou omirias a.v.e.e.
The conversation between the two was amicable and cordial, starting the moment Exarchos approached the bench Mbatu was working at.
"Already back here, galonas*? Haven't got much for you since that last lead on the Rhinos on Monday."
*galonas (meaning "man with the stripes on his shoulders") is an epithet for members of the Pelasgian security services, especially officers; it is considered more amiable than asphalitis ("[state-]security man") or the pejorative batsos ("fist/punch")
"Nah, this time I don't want you to get me something from someone. I want you to get something to them."
Mbatu paused and turned around.
"You lot are talking to the Rhinos now? Didn't know you Donkeys* were getting that desperate."
*the donkey is one of Pelasgia's traditional national animals, alongside the dolphin and the booted eagle
"Nah, this message is for the LLC. Nobody less than Masimba himself," he said handing Mbatu the message; before he let go of the paper he spoke again; "Mbatu this one's serious and it's from high up. Very high up."
"How high up, galonas?" said Mbatu with a concerned face.
"Quarter of the Angels* high-up. I don't want any leaks, you understand? A word of this gets out to anyone, and neither one of us is coming home to our families for Christmas."
*The central government district of Propontis, including the Imperial Palace and many organs of the executive government, as well as prestigious embassies and the Propontis homes of noble and notable families
"Understood, boss. I'll get my best people on this. Not a word, as you said."
Exarchos nodded and turned around to leave. As he exited the room, he placed a small package containing money and a chocolate bar near the door.
"Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, Mbatu. Send my regards to the family; the Lieut sends a little gift for the holidays."
"Same to you, Pavlos. I'll light a candle for you and your family when I visit the monastery with my family next weekend."
Mbatu, true to his word, made sure the note would get to Masimba. It read thus:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONFIDENTIAL COMMUNIQUE
Propontis | 19/12/2018
Propontis | 19/12/2018
Mr. Masimba,
The Pelasgian Empire has observed the recent developments in your country with great care and concern. It is our firm belief that independence and freedom should reign across the Ebony Continent and that this end should be pursued by any and all means necessary. At the same time, we have no desire to see Loago, or any other part of Himyar, fall to the virulent ideology of Communism.
It is the Empire's understanding that you are a practical man in complicated circumstances. In our view, the LLC is the only party capable of bringing long-term peace and stability to Loago without the need for the presence of foreign troops or overlords. As such, the Empire would be willing to offer you its support in the liberation of your homeland; we do, of course, take issue with the economic policies espoused by your movement, but in terms of Nationalism, the LLC and the Nationalist Party which now rules Pelasgia are perfectly aligned.
Provided that the LLC is ready to moderate and play-down the Marxist element of its message in favour of focusing on its Nationalism, the Empire would be willing to offer considerable material, diplomatic, ideological, financial and other support, both practical and theoretical and long and short-term. We do not expect the LLC to become Engellexian-style free-market enthusiasts. Lord knows the Nationalist Party of Pelasgia is not of such views either, favouring state intervention, command of the heights of the economy and class cooperation, a safe middle path of economic policy. As long as the LLC would be more amenable to move towards that middle, in fact even if not in name, the Empire would find it to be quite positively aligned with our views for what the future of Himyar should be.
If this is of interest to you, Mr. Masimba, you will find attached information on how to contact us more readily and easily, so as to establish a more permanent and meaningful relationship. Of course, if you instead wish to betray us, you will that these sources could not be used for anything but vague and unsubstantiated accusations which will have little effect. As such, it would be in your best interest to not respond at all if cooperation is not on your mind. But your ultimate best interest, as we are sure you are aware, is to cooperate with our country for the purposes of Himyari liberation.
We eagerly await your response.
With honour,
A. Kalogeros
First General Directorate
Central State Security Service
Pelasgian Empire
@Natal